The Ethics and Security of Cloud Computing

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The Ethics and Security of Cloud Computing

benefits offered by cloud computing are numerous, several outstanding questions remain regarding the relative security of cloud-based systems as compared

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he shift from desktop- and server-based software to software as a service (SaaS) or “cloud computing” is one of the most significant transitions in computing to occur in the last 20 years. While the

to traditional, on-premises solutions. In a law firm context, the use of cloud computing raises ethics issues around storing confidential client data on a system the attorney may not own or otherwise control. The discourse on the ethics of cloud computing took a significant step forward in March 2010 with the issuance of a proposed Formal Ethics Opinion (FEO) on cloud computing by the North Carolina State Bar.

Infrastructure Technologies

ILTA White Paper

This was the first FEO in North America to explicitly deal with the use of SaaS/cloud computing in a law firm. While the proposed FEO ultimately endorses the use of cloud computing technology in a law firm provided that “reasonable care is taken effectively to minimize the risks to the confidentiality and to the security of client information and client files,” the onus of evaluating a cloud provider’s security infrastructure is placed on the law firm.

for firms of all sizes. Cloud-based services typically eliminate large up-front licensing and server costs, offer drastically reduced consulting and installation fees, and do away with the “upgrade treadmill” usually associated with traditional desktop- and server-based software. Cloud-based services also offer “anywhere accessibility,” a high level of easeof-use, and compatibility with both Windows and Mac OS X.

Cloud CompuTIng

Cloud computing is computing delivered as a service over the Internet, with less need for software on your desktop computer. Increasingly, it will matter less and less which computer you use to do your work: your...